Stability in Postcolonial African States

(Hardback)

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This book explores the instability of the African postcolonial state and demonstrates that such a fundamental crisis can be solved only through discourses and practices that are designed beyond the Westphalian model of the modern state and out of the neo-patrimonialistic system of African governance. The challenge of instability will not be overcome by rebuilding the African nation-state undermined by social contradictions and complex emergencies; rather stability will be achieved by opening a public space of agonistic democracy that is supported mainly by an overlapping consensus on justice. The author argues that by reading critically, the African philosophy of solidarity is contradicted by structural violence and inequality. The political instrumentalization of kinship provokes the exclusion of minorities, the marginalization of masses, and the instability of the entire society. Governance is reduced to mere conflict management. The solution of legitimate violence becomes another version of the problem of institutional incapacity. The author's contention is people are the ultimate and permanent agents of stability, and the ground of stability must not be a strong state, but the politics of reciprocity and union among people that implies a sense of justice in the power sharing and in the decision making process.

Reviews

This book will surely be recognized as an excellent contribution to a better understanding of the African continent's current tribulations. -- Melchior Mbonimpa, University of Sudbury
The theme of Bueyas book is, as even the author himself readily admits, big. For it is nothing less than a comprehensive analysis of the root causes of instability in postcolonial African states combined with an equally comprehensive prescription of how to achieve stability. Bueya is, however, up to the task and manages to pull it off. The core of his analysis of and solution to the instability problem turns on moving away from a state-centered political theorizing to a people-centered community oriented perspective, a shift from the organ of the state to the collective agency of the people. Bueya brings to the task not only a wide array of the currently most sophisticated philosophical/political theories, but also a deep existential knowledge and awareness of the African people beyond the state-centered theoretics. For anyone looking for a fresh analysis of the causes of instability in postcolonial African states and possible ways of bringing about change, Bueyas book provides a great place to start. -- Patrick Goodin, Howard University

Author Bio

Emmanuel Bueya is associate professor at Loyola University of Congo.